The sudden forced emigration wrenched me from calm and comfortable life of a middle-aged architect into life of an exile in a new land. Everything is upended here, and my task now is to navigate unfamiliar terrain and somehow find my place here.

Amid all of this, I began constructing a private, fairy-tale world hidden from prying eyes, which only my two daughters have access to. The world where the boundaries of possibility dissolve, the feminine fantasyland sprung from the bedtime tales mothers weave for their children, inspired by Russian folklore. Yet, this world is steeped in a profound sense of homesickness.

Russian fairy tales have never been cheerful. Often, they are dark, enigmatic, and unsettling—but always brimming with magic. And so, our story follows suit.

We don’t craft elaborate plots. We simply step into this world—up in the attic of our rented home—and take a photograph, a moment suspended in time, before slipping back out.

In our fantasyland, nothing is permanent. Everything shifts, transforms. Mother, witch, queen; daughter-girl, daughter-child, daughter-doll—each character blending into the next, caught in a constant state of transformation. There is no fixed point, only the shimmering transitions between them. And no end here, even a happy one.

Each photograph in the project is an illustration to the fairy tale, that has not been written yet. Or the entire project can serve as an illustration for a sequence of unfolding fairy tale events. Or, part of the project's photographs can be used as illustrations for a fairy tale. Each image contains numerous details, layers, plot twists. Everyone has their own interpretation.

I invite you, the viewer, to create your own fairy tale inspired by my illustrations.
You can interpret the images in any way and write your own fairy tale.

If you want it you can use Small Tips for Crafting Your Fairy Tale:
Start with a Setting: Describe where and when your story takes place.
Introduce Characters: Present your hero, the villain, and any supporting characters.
Plot Development:
Beginning: Set up a normal situation, then introduce a problem.
Departure: The hero sets off on a quest.
Challenges: The hero faces obstacles and enemies.
Victory: The hero overcomes the main challenge.
Return: The hero comes back home changed or with a reward.
Key Elements:
Motivation: What drives the hero?
Allies/Enemies: Who helps or hinders the hero?
Climax: The most intense moment of conflict.
Resolution: How is the conflict resolved?

Feel free to be creative and let your imagination guide you! The best stories may be included in a future book project.
Thank you for participating and sharing your imagination with the world!